Bideford Phoenix Morris -
a side of mixed blessings!

Dancing mostly Cotswold, with some Border during the winter months, we are an enthusiastic, sociable side with a penchant not only for good beer, but also tasty food - and plenty of it. Have I mentioned dancing? - we love it and will dance more or less anywhere anytime, any weather ( just don't mention Bude, in the rain - even the dogs shudder!)

Weekends away, dancing at festivals, is what we enjoy most - but then again - we enjoy dancing at our local events and favourite pubs in and around Bideford. We just enjoy dancing - and it shows.

You may well have danced with us on some occasion - we are the smiling side wearing crossed red baldricks, emblazoned on the front with the Bideford town crest , and on the back, with a majestic phoenix rising from the flames! We smile throughout Litchfield Hey's and even Black Joke although the smile is then more of a grimace!

We danced at last year's folk festival with two other local sides, Tarka Morris and Winkleigh Morris and this year we are all looking forward to welcoming your side to Bideford for what will be an enjoyable weekend of dancing.

Watch this space for more details.

Applejacks

...are an enthusiastic, vibrant group where enjoyment is the key.
We love to dance and inspire our audiences.We meet in the Bristol area with some members travelling from North Somerset , Bath , and Nailsworth in Gloucestershire. Applejacks dance in the Appalachian style which originates from the Appalachian Mountains in the South Eastern states of N. America. The style has its roots in the dances brought by the early settlers. Over the years traditional steps from Europe have been combined with those of African and Native American dancers, emerging as the tapping of hobnailed workshoes on kitchen floors and porches.

Applejacks choreograph dances using a mix of traditional and modern stepping. This results in a performance that is individual and highly enjoyable for dancers and audience alike.

We perform with live acoustic music and wear flat leather-soled shoes with metal taps to provide a percussive accompaniment. Our musicians play a variety of stringed instruments – fiddle, banjo and guitar. They share a love of Old Timey music. Some tunes have a ‘rag-time' touch, yet whatever they are, they are played fast and in a way that's infectious and makes feet tap! We have performed at fetes, folk clubs, dance days, street fayres, tea dances, garden and wedding parties. We have arranged and led several workshops too. We have also danced at larger events such as the Chippenham Festival, Upton Festival, Ashton Court Festival, Bath Flower Show, Priddy Folk Festival.

Winkleigh Morris

Formed in 1990, we are a mixed side of about twenty  dancers and musicians. We perform a variety of dances from Cotswold and Border Morris traditions, as well as some dances of our own. From May until September we can be seen on a Tuesday evening around the villages in the heart of Devon , where you are welcome to join us afterwards in a friendly hostelry for further music, singing and dancing. We have danced at several festivals in this country and usually attend at least one Morris weekend every summer as guests of another group.

Every two years we organise our own Weekend of Dance (May 2005 – which was very successful) at which we welcome friends old and new from all over the country. We have visited Eire and France and are always keen to establish new contacts elsewhere. We are a member of the Morris Federation.

You are welcome to share our fun whether as a spectator or by becoming a dancer or musician!

Tarka Morris

Nemo enim fere saltat sobrius, nisi forte insanit.

(Hardly anyone dances sober, unless he's completely mad. Cicero 106 - 43 BC)

Tarka Morris Men are based in Bideford, North Devon, a small working port on the river Torridge and the birthplace of Charles Kingsley, author of 'The Water Babies' and 'Westward Ho!' We 'dance out' in Bideford and the surrounding area during the summer months and also on Boxing Day and St. George's Day.

The side was founded in September 1991 by John Blackburn, still the current Foreman, and other former members of nearby Barnstaple Morris which had disbanded in the late 1980's. The side takes its name (and its logo) from the novel 'Tarka the Otter' by Henry Williamson, another local author. Nobody knows where the Morris came from, but it's almost certainly an ancient tradition, probably connected with pagan rituals celebrating the coming of summer. It's fun is the Morris and it has great music. And sometimes there really is free beer..... .

Tarka Morris Men have their own dance style, which is based on the Cotswold tradition. We dance the Morris because we enjoy it, and because we are preserving an ancient and important part of our heritage. And if that's not enough we also do Mummers' Plays.

We've always room for new members, dancers or musicians or both. Ring our Foreman John Blackburn or our Squire Glenn Bower for more information. They're on 01237 476632 and 01237 479310 respectively.

Dartmoor Border Morris

Dartmoor Border Morris perform traditional Border dances from the counties along the English-Welsh border and a few local Devon ones as well. The side members include many talented musicians and performers. A seasonal Mummers Play has also become a firm favourite. Dartmoor practice regularly in the winter months at Meavy, near Yelverton and thereafter can be found throughout the summer dancing at numerous West Devon pubs and attending local fetes and festivals.

www.dartmoorbordermorris.internet-today.co.uk

Saffron Maids were formed in 1993 to perform North West and Garland dances. They are based in Wadebridge, home of the Cornwall Folk Festival. Their colourful outfit reflects the Cornish colours of black, white and gold.

Raddon Hill Clogg Morris

Raddon Hill Clog Morris are a mixed North-West side based in Exeter , Devon and were originally formed in 1990. The side takes it's name from a local landmark and currently comprises of around 20 dancers and 8 musicians.

The dances performed by “Raddon Hill” originated from the cotton mill towns of North West England, where the mill workers used to form processional dances on their way to and from work. The clogs worn for these dances were the everyday footwear of the factory workers until the 1930's and their distinctive sound has been a large influence in the development of the Northwest style, which is why it is often referred to as “Clog Morris”.

The mill worker's clogs and factory bobbins used by our Morris side are reminders of the industrial origins of this North West tradition. Our repertoire is adapted from the processional dances created by the people of towns such as Runcorn, Clitheroe, Colne and Littleborough.

Our uniforms are colourful versions of the everyday clothes worn in the 19 th century. The men wear bowler hats decorated with flowers, black breeches with purple and green ribbons and purple waistcoats. The ladies wear full black skirts with purple and green ribbons, white blouses and black clogs.

If you would like to learn more about our side, please visit our website

www.geocities.com/raddonhill

Or e-mail us at : raddonhill@yahoo.co.uk

Full Moon Morris

Full Moon Morris started early in 1997, when six men and women who danced with various local sides in South Wales wanted to "get out more". Initially we learnt three dances to perform when we accompanied Shoostring Appalachian Dancers to the South West of Ireland at Easter 1997. Our first musician joined us at that point, practising the tunes outside our rented cottage on the first day of the trip.

At the time we had no plans beyond that - however such was the interest amongst our travelling companions that many of them joined us in the following months, plus other local dancers once the word got around. By the end of the year we had around 20 dancers and musicians.

And the name...?

Contrary to popular belief, our name is not derived from certain habits of our male members. In fact we take our name from a small hamlet near to Cross Keys in the South Wales valleys. There's not much to see of the hamlet now, but the Full Moon name lives on in a roundabout on the nearby A467 dual carriageway!

Cogs and Wheels

Cogs and Wheels Ladies Morris a Devon side were formed in 1995. We take our inspiration from Finch Foundry in Sticklepath and the surrounding Dartmoor landscape. Our costumes reflect the hues of the moor and our Beldames style of dancing is quite distinctive. We perform a wide variety of dances from several traditions – mostly Cotswold, with some Border and some of our own. We regularly may donations to charity this year we are collecting for Direct (Diabetes Research at Exeter ).

Editors Note; Cogs and Wheels have a historically interesting take on the origins of Morris Dancing. It is a matter for discussion but they believe that Henry VIII married six times in order to get a Morris Side together; we presume that was an all ladies side. Who I wonder did the calling, under the circumstances? They are sponsored by St Austell Brewery which may explain things somewhat .